Betty Yates' family in new plea over her murder

The family of murdered Betty Yates today urged her killer to hand themselves into police in an emotional appeal.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy, her son and daughter said they were "completely bewildered" as to why anyone would want to hurt their mother.

The 77-year-old had been beaten with her own walking stick and stabbed in the neck at her home, off Dowles Road, in Bewdley, before she was discovered on January 4.

Daughter Hazel Costello and son David Yates said they had been left "devastated" by their loss.

"This has been such a hard time for us - to lose your mum is always dreadful but to lose your mum like this when you worry constantly about how frightened she must have been or what she might have felt during such a vicious attack is like a nightmare," Hazel said.

"At the moment we don't know if it was a burglary or there was another reason. It's possible our mum knew who killed her and this only makes things worse for us."

They appealed to anyone who might know anything about the murder to contact police immediately.

"Please, if you know anything about this can you come forward. If you have done this then please hand yourselves in. And if you are protecting somebody, please think about how we are hurting and tell the police what you know," she said.

"The police tell us that they have not traced anybody who visited mum at home either that day or after that so if you called in can you please get in touch as you might have vital information and not even realise it.

"The police have a lot of detail to work through but if you did go to the cottage and see her between December 28 and the Bank Holiday Monday, then it's important you come forward as it could help them rule out certain lines of enquiry and save time.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, who is leading the inquiry, reiterated that it was vital that anyone who had visited Betty Yates's cottage, Riverscroft, between December 28 and January 2 contacted detectives working on the case.

"We are as determined as ever to track down the person or people responsible for this dreadful murder and we will not stop until we have achieved that," he said.